Machine for making fibrous badges having



Feb. 7. 1956 R. G. SCHMITT ET AL 2,733,751

MACHINE FOR MAKING FIBROUS BADGES HAVING AN ADHESIVE SECURING PORTION 3Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Feb. 19, 1954 INVENTOR5 Jiolcmd 6'. 561 m Feb. 7.1956 R. G. SCHMITT ET AL 2,733,751

MACHINE FOR MAKING FIBROUS BADGES HAVING AN ADHESIVE SECURING PORTION 3Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb. 19, 1954 I Q; i i;

Z07a'nd Verna/7E .iweobe' I k Z M Feb. 7. 1956 R. G. SCHMITT ET AL2,733,751

MACHINE FOR MAKING FIBROUS BADGES HAVING AN ADHESIVE SECURING PORTIONFiled Feb. 19, 1954' 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 United States Patent MACHINEFORMAKING FIBROUS BADGES HAV- AN ADHESIVE SECURING PQRTIGN Roland G.Schinitt and Vernon E. Swedberg, Chicago, Ill assignors to Walgreen(30., Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Illinois Application February19,1954, Serial No. 411,47

1 Claim. (Cl. 1541) This invention relates to a machine for makingbadges of cloth, paper or other suitable material wherein the badgeproper is imprinted, blanked, and then provided with an adhesivesecuring portion, and wherein such securing portion is initially in tapeformto serve thespecific function during operation of the machine ofcarrying the badges away from the blanking station, whereafter the tapeis severed. The invention also contemplates the novel product asproduced,for example, on the machine as well as the process by which thesame are produced in commercially convenient form.

In retail stores badges are frequently employed in a promotional mannerto carry a special advertising message to the customer. The proceduregenerally takes the form of imprinting the then-current message upon aninexpensive cloth or paper badge which is preferably afiixed to thesalespersons coat or uniform by an adhesive bond of a charactercalculated not to injure the clothing. Safety pins or other penetratingtypes of fastenings are obviously undesirable. Furthermore, theadvertising message is preferably changed at least daily to excite thecustomers interest with a fresh feature at frequent intervals. In thisway the customer develops anticipation for the daily message and thepossible bargain it may represent.

In order that the storekeeper may be supplied at the desired frequentintervals ordinary commercial-sources of supply are ruled out as theseare not generally capable of, or equipped for producing daily asmallsupply of badges each lot of which bears a different message.

Accordingly, this invention has, for its principal object, the provisionof a simple, inexpensive machine for the production of badges of thecharacteroutlined which is capable of being safely operated'by arelatively unskilled attendant.

Another object is to provide a machine as aforesaid adapted for rapidchanging of the type matter.

A further object is to provide a machine in accordance with theforegoing which is adapted to receive blank stock of cloth, paper,plastic composition or other material suitable for the purpose both inroll and strip form.

Still another object is to provide a machine including means forblanking the article and securing the separate badges temporarilypending ultimate use thereof, and which securingmediumis also usablesubsequently for adhesively attaching the badge to the wearers clothing.

Other objects will-appear from the following description which, takenwith the accompanying drawings, will disclose a preferred/mode ofcarrying the invention into practice.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 shows a top plan view of the machine;

Fig.2 is a left side elevational view thereof;

Fig. ,3 is a front-elevational view thereof;

Fig. 4 shows a vertical cross section substantially on the line 44 ofFig. 2;

Fig. 5 isa view to show more clearly details of the shearing means; and

they are severally. secured. The badges and strip as thus grouped arethen capable of being shipped as a plurality for separation at thepointof ultimate use or, if preferred, separated at the point of departurefrom the machine. Preferably a two-sided adhesive strip is employedwhereby one face'may be adhered to the badge and the other face, afterremoval of a layer of temporary protective material, may subsequently besecured to the wearers clothing, the adhesive being of a non-injuriouscharacter.

Referring to the drawings there is shown a framework 10 includinga rightside Wall 11, a left side wall 12, a rear wall 13, a front wall 14 and abase 15, all whereof are mutually joined as a rigid unit in anyconventional fashion.

An electrical power unit 17 of the gear reduction-motor driven type isprovided with a sprocket lsconnected by a chain 19 to anothersp'roeketzz keyed to a jack shaft 23. Such shaft is journalled in anoutboard sleeve bearing 24 in the frame part 11 and in an inboard ballbearing 25 supported on the rigid posts 26-26 outstanding from the framepart 12.

At the forward end of the shaft 23 there is provided a crank pin 32whichis effective to convert the rotation of the shaft 23 intoreciprocating motion of the printing mechanism. To this end a crosshead35 is supportedfor sliding movement in a guide 36 held on the plate 12.Such crosshead carries a horizontally extending bracket 36 to which issecureda pillow block 37 having a pin 39 for accommodating theconnecting rod 41. Thus energization of the motor is effective toreciprocate the crosshead andits thereto-"attached printing head 51.

Inasmuch as the exemplification embodiment shown and described hereinisdesigned to imprint from foil by the action of heat the head 51 is shownas carrying an electrical heating unit 52 and an interchangeableprinting plate 53 carriedin a holder 54. Current for the heater is shownas supplied througha cord '56 and-switch box57 and may bethermostatically controlled, all in a well-known manner. Obviously thetype-matter'inay be hand set or plates and carried in as'uitable chase,asis commonly understood. The'platen 59 may be rubber'carried on'abridge 61 supported on pedestals 62-62 bolted to the base plate 15.

In the illustrated case material for the badges is inthe form of a rollof cloth or other flexible material 63 and fed from on a spool 64 whichis arranged for relatively free rotation on a spindle 65outstanding froman arm-66 secured to thetplate 12. Friction means of common formrepresented by a compression spring 67 and retaining collar 68 may beprovided.

Upon leaving the spool, the strip 63 is fed under a pair of positioningrollers 69-69 so located as to insure flat lay and tautness of the stripover the platen 59, and a consequent uniform impression thereon.Intermittent ad vancernent of the strip is effected by a rubber-facedfeed roller 73 cooperating with a spring-pressed idler roller 74 a mitergear 84 which is keyed to a stub shaft 86 rotatably supportedin a-pillowblock 87 carried-on the plate 12. Toward the rear of the shaft 86 issecured V a spring post 98. A unidirectional clutch 90 is interposedbetween the shaft 95 and a shaft 96 to which the feed roller 73 is keyedfor mutual rotation. Thus circular motion of the pin 92 is effective toimpart partial rotation to the sprocket 94 depending upon the ratiobetween the throw of the pin and the pitch diameter of the sprocket. Byproper selection of such ratio with respect to the periphery of theroller 73 the strip 63 may be advanced the required amount at each cycleof operation. By employment of the clutch 90 the chain 93 is allowed tobe restored to its initial position under urging of the spring 97.

Following imprinting the strip 63 is fed through a guide 101 cut into anopening 105 in the wall 12 (Figs. 3 and for the blanking of the badgesand their incorporation with the adhesive material as will now bedescribed.

A support and guide block 111 is secured to the wall 12 and and is boredat 112-412 to receive slidably a pair of guide rods 113113 and which,upon its front surface, supports a platform 117. A solenoid 118 issecured to the plate 12 and includes a plunger 121 linked at 122 to ayoke comprising parts 123 and 124124, and which latter are attached to across bar 126 to which the guide rods 113113 are bolted.

The punch which, with its cooperating die, severs the strip 63 into theselected length for the badge and simultaneously provides any desiredmarginal configuration therefor is indicated at 131, and may be carriedon a shoe 132 forming an extension of the cross bar 126. Thecorresponding die is shown at 134 and is mounted on the guide block 111.In the illustrative case the strip 63 is severed in a manner to'providebadges having end margins as shown in Fig. 6 although obviously thecontour is capable of wide variation within the scope of the invention.Desirably, and in accordance with the usual practice, a presser foot 141in the form of a rubber pad cemented to the punch 131 may be employed torestrict shifting of the strip 63 during severance thereof.

Intermittent operation of the punch and die is accomplished insynchronism with the printing mechanism by opening and closing of aswitch 145 mounted on the wall 14 and actuated by a cam 146 formed on adisc 147. Disc 147 is driven via a miter gear 148 keyed to a shaft 151and in mesh with the miter gear 84. Disc 147 is carried at the outer endof the shaft 151 which also carries a sprocket 152 to drive, through achain 154, another sprocket 155 for a purpose later to appear.

Disc 147 also carries a crank pin 161 to which one end of a chain 162 islinked and which latter passes over a sprocket 163 keyed to a shaftforming the input of a uni-directional clutch 164, the output whereof isrepresented by a shaft 165 carrying a rubber-faced feed roller 167. Aknurled-face idler roller 168 protrudes through a slot in the platform117 for gripping and feeding of the adhesive tape 171 and thethereto-secured cut badges. The adhesive material is preferably a paperstrip coated on both sides with a pressure-sensitive adhesive, one facebeing protected by a strippable protective strip ofpaper so arranged, byslitting or otherwise, as to be easily peeled off when the badge is tobe applied to the wearers clothing. The opposite face of the tape isexposed as it leaves its supply roll and is therefore partially pressedinto contact with the lower face of the badges (Fig. 6) as the badge issevered from the advancing strip and fully pressed into contact by therolls 167 and 168. Accordingly a roll of the material is supported onmeans 172 which may be similar in form and function to the meansemployed for the ribbon 63, wherefrom it is fed below the advancingribbon and in such 4 position relative thereto as to result in theassembled arrangemcnt of Fig. 6 just described.

From the preceding description it will have become clear that,simultaneously with the severance of the strip 63 into individual badgesthe concurrent downward travel of the foot 141 will cause the separatedportion, e. g., 176, to adhere to the unprotected, i. e., upper face ofthe adhesive tape 171, each portion or badge 176 advancing from blankingposition upon the tape 171 acting as a conveyor. Additionally theworking face of the presser foot 141 is made coextensive with the areaformed by the intersection of the cut badge and the securing strip 171.Otherwise if the presser foot is permitted to contact the upper adhesivesurface of the strip 171 it would simply lift the same with it and causemisfunction. By this procedure the badges leave the machine in anorderly manner lending itself to subsequent simple packaging anddispensing. For example, and by utilizing a counting mechanism 181, theattendant may simply allow a predetermined plurality of badges to leavethe machine, whereupon the tape 171 may be cut by hand at that point,and a shipping carton into which the badges have been permitted toaccumulate, removed and another substituted. If desired automatic meansmay be used for separating the badges singly as they exit from theblanking station. It will be understood that, by suitable design andadjustment of the machine, the spacing of the successive badges alongthe tape 171 may be made as close as desired. Thus one cut will separatethe same without leaving an unsightly, excessive overrun of tape on thelateral margins of the badges.

When imprinting from metallic or other foil'which is generally suppliedcommercially in rolls means are provided to feed the same intermittentlybetween the type face and ribbon. In the embodiment shown a roll of foil201 is supported for rotation, subject to the customary mild brakingforce, on a spindle 202 and thence passes over the strip 63 whereat itis utilized during the printing step in a manner now believed to beapparent. Thereafter the exhausted foil is drawn downwardly and betweena power-driven roller 204 and an idler roller 205. Suitable intermittentrotation of the roller 204 is provided by means similar to thatheretofore detailed. Such means includes the sprocket 155, heretoforementioned, keyed to a shaft 200 which, through gears 198 and 199, drivesa shaft 207 which also carries a disc 208 having a crank pin 209. Thechain 211, spring 212 and sprocket 213 function in a manner now believedto be apparent, to operate the roller 204 through a unidirectionalclutch 214.

In order to assure current to the driving motor until the printing headhas returned to its upper, or normal rest position a micro-switch 221 isarranged to be operated by a pin 222 carried on shaft 207. The circuitryis such that the switch 221 is connected in parallel across the mainmotor switch (not shown). Therefore, notwithstanding opening of thelatter, the motor circuit is held closed until the printing head is atits uppermost position, and at which time, the pin 222 opens the switch221.

It will be comprehended that the badges may be simply blanked from acontinuous ribbon upon which the printing has already been done. In suchcase feeding of the ribbon intermittently and synchronously with themovement of the punch may be accomplished in any wellknown manner, asfor example, by the use of a marker associated with each printedimpression cooperative with photocell-actuated ribbon-feeding mechanism.

While we have shown a particular embodiment of our invention, it will beunderstood, of course, that we do not wish to be limited thereto sincemany modifications may be made, and we therefore contemplate by theappended claims to cover any such modifications as fall within the truespirit and scope of our invention.

We claim:

A machine for manufacturing from a strip of mate rial badges having atleast one dimension equal to the width of the strip and a separate,adhesively secured element for securing the badge to the wearersclothing, the element extending continuously across the badge in thedirection of said dimension and having a width in the perpendiculardirection substantially less than said first direction which comprisesmeans for advancing said strip extensive with the area of intersectionof the two strips, whereby said presser foot presses the severed badgeinto adhesive contact with the second strip substantially simultaneouslywith the severing operation and said second strip is thereaftereifective to convey its thereto-attached badges away from the severingstation as a completed product, and means for synchronizing theintermittent advance of said two strips and severing and presser footmeans for simultaneous dwell thereof during the intermittently past asevering station, means at said sta- 10 cutting and pressing operations.

tion for severing the strip across its width to provide individualbadges, means for intermittently advancing a strip of adhesive materialperpendicularly to the direction of advance of the first strip in a pathadjacent said severing means, and closely adjacent the path of theadvancing first strip, a presser foot carried on said severing means foraction substantially simultaneously therewith, said presser foot havinga working face co- References Cited in the file of this patent UNITEDSTATES PATENTS 15 2,511,559 Banfi et a1 June 13, 1950 2,569,101 HoppeSept. 25, 1951 2,642,116 Fisher et a1. June 16, 1953

